At least 15 people were killed and several others injured after a massive landslide struck a private bus in the Balurghat area of Jhandhuta subdivision in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday. The bus was hit directly by the falling debris, leaving passengers trapped under the rubble as authorities launched urgent rescue efforts.
Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh | At least 10 people killed and several others injured after a private bus was hit by a landslide in the Balurghat area of Jhandhuta subdivision in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district.
Excavation and rescue operations are continuing on a war footing.… pic.twitter.com/LYH5gHXOJE
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2025
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bilaspur, Om Kant, excavation and rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing with teams from the local administration, police, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on site. Rescue personnel continued their efforts late into the night, working through challenging terrain and heavy rainfall to locate survivors and recover bodies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, taking to X he wrote, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time.”
He also announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured in the incident.
Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 7, 2025
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also shared his condolences and said he was personally monitoring the situation.
In a statement posted on social media, he wrote, “The news of the devastating landslide near Balughat (Bhalla Bridge) in the Jhanduta Assembly constituency of Bilaspur district has shaken me to the core. In this massive landslide, tragic news has come of 10 people losing their lives after a private bus was caught in it, and there is apprehension that several others may be trapped under the debris.”
The Chief Minister added that instructions have been issued to deploy the full machinery of the administration and that he remains in constant touch with officials receiving “moment-by-moment updates” from the site.
बिलासपुर ज़िला के झंडूता विधानसभा क्षेत्र के बालूघाट (भल्लू पुल) के पास हुए भीषण भूस्खलन की ख़बर ने मन को भीतर तक झकझोर दिया है।
इस भारी भूस्खलन में एक प्राइवेट बस के चपेट में आने से 10 लोगों के निधन का दु:खद समाचार मिला है और कई अन्य के मलबे में दबे होने की आशंका है। रेस्क्यू… pic.twitter.com/GBZslb36CP— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) October 7, 2025
Further details are awaited.
